In a close fight between ranked middleweights, Uriah Hall would come out on top via split decision.
Uriah Hall’s first fight of the year came at UFC Vancouver. The veteran last fought in December of 2018, defeating Bevon Lewis via third-round KO. He’d won two of his last three bouts before Saturday, with the lone loss coming to Paulo Costa at UFC 226. The 35-year-old had struggled to string together victories in the promotion and was looking to have his first two-fight winning streak since 2015.
Standing in the way of Hall’s winning streak was a guy who’d just had his five-fight winning streak snapped: Antonio Carlos Junior. The 29-year-old Brazilian had fought the vast majority of his professional career in the UFC, tallying a 7-3 (1) record since 2014. In his most recent bout, at UFC Rochester in May, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion and former winner of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 3 Heavyweight Tournament lost a unanimous decision to rising middleweight prospect Ian Heinisch.
Round 1: Hall came out quickly, pumping the jab against the Brazilian. Hall landed a big right cross that opened Carlos Junior up, however, he would shoot for the takedown and get the back almost immediately. Carlos Junior’s nose looked like a water faucet as Hall shrugged him off, and returned to trading on the feet. Hall landed some stiff jabs and landed two left hooks prior to Carlos Junior shooting for, and getting a big slam takedown on Hall. Carlos Junior landed some ground and pound at the end of the first, however, time would run out.
Round 2: Hall came out winging shots at the beginning of the second, prior to another takedown attempt by Carlos Junior. Carlos Junior would stall on the cage for a bit before Hall would shrug him off. Hall would land a giant right hand that dropped Shoeface, and he would swarm him on the ground before an armbar attempt had him think twice. Hall would let Carlos Junior return to his feet, and he would instantly get the takedown, however, Hall would get back to his feet. The second round would end off a Hall flurry.
Round 3: Carlos Junior would get a takedown to start the third and would get Hall’s back. Carlos Junior would not be able to get the choke for the entire round, and as a result, would get many “stand them up chants” from the crowd. The referee would threaten to stand them up multiple times, however, it would never come. Neither would the choke, as we would go to a decision in a close fight.
Uriah Hall wins by decision! #UFCVancouver pic.twitter.com/zdyYx4Xv3H
— ShayMyName (@ImShannonTho) September 15, 2019
Result: Uriah Hall def. Antonio Carlos Junior via split-decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
